System and method for controlling an electrical receptacle

ABSTRACT

A power receptacle including an outlet configured to electrically connect to a load device and an electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to determine a state of charge of a battery of the load device. The electronic processor is further configured to supply power to the load device when the state of charge of the battery is below a predetermined threshold and to discontinue supply of power to the load device when the state of charge of the battery is at or above the predetermined threshold.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/522,551, filed on Jun. 20, 2017, the entire contentsof which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments relate to electrical receptacles.

SUMMARY

Electrical receptacles, such as arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCI)receptacles or ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) receptacles, areconfigured to provide power to a load device electrically connected tothe electrical receptacle. The load device may include a battery, whichis charged using power received from the electrical receptacle.Typically, when electrically connected to the power supply, power isconstantly supplied from the receptacle to the load device, even whenthe battery of the load device is at a fully charged state. Constantlysupplying power, when the battery is at a fully charged state, is notonly inefficient, may also damage the battery and/or decrease batterylife.

Thus, one embodiment provides a power receptacle including an outletconfigured to electrically connect to a load device and an electronicprocessor. The electronic processor is configured to determine a stateof charge of a battery of the load device. The electronic processor isfurther configured to supply power to the load device when the state ofcharge of the battery is below a predetermined threshold and todiscontinue supply of power to the load device when the state of chargeof the battery is at or above the predetermined threshold.

Another embodiment provides a method of operating a power receptacleelectrically connected to a load device. The method includes determininga state of charge of a battery of the load device. The method furtherincludes supplying power to the load device when the state of charge ofthe battery is below a predetermined threshold and discontinuing supplyof power to the load device when the state of charge of the battery isat or above the predetermined threshold.

Other aspects of the application will become apparent by considerationof the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical receptacle according tosome embodiments.

FIG. 2A is a partially exposed front perspective view of the electricalreceptacle of FIG. 1 according to some embodiments.

FIG. 2B is a partially exposed back perspective view of the electricalreceptacle of FIG. 1 according to some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a partially exposed view of the electrical receptacle of FIG.1 according to some embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a testing circuit of the electricalreceptacle of FIG. 1 according to some embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the electricalreceptacle of FIG. 1 according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the application are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the application is not limited in its applicationto the details of construction and the arrangement of components setforth in the following description or illustrated in the followingdrawings. The application is capable of other embodiments and of beingpracticed or of being carried out in various ways.

For ease of description, some or all of the example systems presentedherein are illustrated with a single exemplar of each of its componentparts. Some examples may not describe or illustrate all components ofthe systems. Other example embodiments may include more or fewer of eachof the illustrated components, may combine some components, or mayinclude additional or alternative components.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a receptacle 10 according toone embodiment of the application. In some embodiments, the receptacle10 is an arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) device or a ground circuitinterrupter (GFCI) device. In some embodiments, the receptacle 10 is areceptacle configured to provide 120VAC and/or 220VAC from the mains toa device electrically coupled to the receptacle. In some embodiments,the receptacle 10 may include a Universal Serial Bus (USB) outlet orother direct current (DC) outlet configured to provide a DC voltage.

In the illustrated embodiment, the receptacle 10 includes a cover 12having a duplex outlet face 14 with a phase opening 16, a neutralopening 18, and a ground opening 20. Additionally, in the illustratedembodiment, the face 14 further has an opening 22 and an adjacentopening 23. The openings 22 and 23 are configured to accommodate outletsin addition to the duplex outlet face 14. For example, as illustrated inFIGS. 2A and 2B, the opening 23 accommodates a first outlet 24 and theopening 22 accommodates a second outlet 28. The outlets 24 and 28 may bethe same type of power outlet or each be a different type. For example,in the illustrated embodiment, the first outlet 24 is a universal serialbus (USB) outlet and the second outlet 28 is a Lightning port (TM) byApple Inc. In other embodiments, the receptacle 10 includes a single USB(or other type of) outlet and/or a single outlet face.

In the illustrated embodiment, the outlet 24 facilitates connectionsbetween a USB charging assembly within the receptacle 10 and to anexternal device including a USB port. However, as stated above, itshould be appreciated that any electrical power/communication connectormay be configured with the disclosed openings 22 and 23 for supplyingpower to an external device.

Returning to FIG. 1, the receptacle 10 further includes a rear cover 36secured to the front cover 12 by four fasteners 38 (two fasteners 38 areshown in FIG. 1, while the other two fasteners 38 are obstructed fromview). In some embodiments, the fasteners 38 include a barbed post 50 onthe front cover 12 and a corresponding resilient hoop 52 on the rearcover 36, similar to that which is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No.6,398,594, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference for all that is taught. A ground yoke/bridge assembly 40includes standard mounting ears 42 protruding from the ends of thereceptacle 10.

FIGS. 2A and 2B each illustrate a perspective view of the front and back(respectively) of the receptacle 10 with the front cover 12 removed toexpose manifold 126. Manifold 126 provides support for a printed circuitboard (PCB) 390 and the yoke/bridge assembly 40 (FIG. 1). The PCB 390includes some or all of the control system 200 (FIG. 4).

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a core assembly 80 according to someembodiments. Core assembly 80 may include a circuit board PCB 82 thatsupports some of the working components of the receptacle 10. In someembodiments, the PCB 82 may be part of the PCB 390 and includes some orall of the control system 200 (FIG. 4). Line contact arms 94, 96 arecantilevered, their respective distal ends carrying phase and neutralline contacts 102, 104. Load contact arms 98, 100 are also cantileveredwith their respective distal ends carrying phase and neutral loadcontacts 101, 103. The resiliency of the cantilevered contact armsbiases the line contacts 102, 104 and load contacts 101, 103 away fromeach other. Load contact arms 98, 100 rest on a movable contact carriage106, made of insulating (preferably thermoplastic) material.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a control system, or circuit, 200within the receptacle 10. The control system 200 includes an electronicprocessor 205 (for example, a microprocessor or another suitableprogrammable device). The electronic processor 205 is electricallyand/or communicatively connected to a variety of modules or componentsof the receptacle 10. For example, the electronic processor 205 isconnected to a line terminal 210, a load terminal 215, an interruptingdevice 220, a rectifier 225, an input/output (I/O) module 230, a sensor231, and a memory 235. In some embodiments the control system 200 alsoincludes a communication link 239. In further embodiments, the controlsystem 200 also includes a transceiver 240.

The memory 235 includes, for example, a program storage area and a datastorage area. The program storage area and the data storage area caninclude combinations of different types of memory, such as read-onlymemory (ROM), random access memory (RAM). , Various non-transitorycomputer readable media, for example, magnetic, optical, physical, orelectronic memory may be used. The electronic processor 205 iscommunicatively coupled to the memory 235 and executes softwareinstructions that are stored in the memory 235, or stored on anothernon-transitory computer readable medium such as another memory or adisc. The software may include one or more applications, program data,filters, rules, one or more program modules, and other executableinstructions.

The line terminal 210 is configured to receive power (for example, linepower). The line terminal 210 is selectively electrically connected, viathe interrupting device 220, to the load terminal 215. The load terminal215 is configured to output the power to a load device 242 (or externalload) outside the system 200 electrically connected to an outlet 245.The outlet 245 is one or more of the electrical power/communicationconnectors of the receptacle, for example one of the outlets of theduplex outlet face 14, outlet 24, and outlet 28. In embodiments withmore than one outlet 245, the system 200 may include duplicate and/oradditional components such as those described below.

The load device 242 may be any kind of electrical device (for example, ahome or commercial appliance, a computer, a portable communicationdevice, a portable battery, and the like) configured to receiveelectrical power from the system 200. In some embodiments, the loaddevice 242 includes a battery (not shown) that is charged when the loaddevice 242 is connected to the system 200. In some embodiments, the loaddevice 242 may be or include an adaptor configured to convert and/orrectify power received from the system 200. It should be understood thatwhile the system and method are described below in terms of a singleload device 242, in some embodiments more than one load device 242 maybe connected to the system 200 through each of the outlet 245 andinteract with the system 200 similarly as described below.

The interrupting device 220 is configured to interrupt the flow of powerfrom the line terminal 210 to the load terminal 215. In someembodiments, the interrupting device 220 may include components of thecore assembly 80, for example line contact arms 94, 96, contacts 102,104, load contact arms 98, 100, and contacts 101, 103.

Although illustrated as a single line terminal 210, a single loadterminal 215, and a single interrupting device 220, in otherembodiments, the receptacle 10 may include two or more individuallyfunctioning line terminals 210, load terminals 215, and interruptingdevices 220. For example, a first line terminal, a first load terminal,and a first interrupting device may correspond to a first outlet of thereceptacle 10, while a second line terminal, a second load terminal, anda second interrupting device may correspond to a second outlet of thereceptacle 10. For example, in some embodiments, line terminal 210, loadterminal 215, and interrupting device 220 may correspond to outlet 24,while the second line terminal, the second load terminal, and the secondinterrupting device may correspond to outlet 28.

In some embodiments, the communication link 239 between the outlet 245and the I/O module 230 is provided such that the electronic processor205 can communicate with the load device 242. The communication link 239may be a physical (wired) connection or an inductive short rangecommunication system. In some embodiments, the communication link 239 isa near field communication link and is integrated with the outlet 245.

The rectifier 225 is configured to rectify the line power to a nominalpower for use by the control system 200. In some embodiments, therectifier 225 rectifies alternating current (AC) power to a nominaldirect current (DC) power. In further embodiments, the rectifier 225 ispositioned in series with the interrupting device 220 to additionallyrectify the line power supplied to the load device 242 through the loadterminal 215.

The I/O module 230 is configured to receive input and to provide outputto peripherals. The I/O module 230 obtains information and signals from,and provides information and signals to, (for example, over one or morewired and/or wireless connections) devices both internal and external tothe receptacle 10. For example, the I/O module 230 is configured toreceive data from the sensor 231. In some embodiments, the I/O module230 is configured to provide communication between the receptacle 10 andoutside devices (for example, other receptacles, electrical devices,external computers, smart phones, tablets, etc.). In such an embodiment,the receptacle 10 may communicate with the one or more outside devicesthrough a network using, for example, the transceiver 240. The networkis, for example, a wide area network (WAN) (e.g., the Internet, a TCP/IPbased network, a cellular network, such as, for example, a Global Systemfor Mobile Communications [GSM] network, a General Packet Radio Service[GPRS] network, a Code Division Multiple Access [CDMA] network, anEvolution-Data Optimized [EV-DO] network, an Enhanced Data Rates for GSMEvolution [EDGE] network, a 3GSM network, a 4GSM network, a DigitalEnhanced Cordless Telecommunications [DECT] network , a Digital AMPS[IS-136/TDMA] network, or an Integrated Digital Enhanced Network [iDEN]network, etc.). In other embodiments, the network is, for example, alocal area network (LAN), a neighborhood area network (NAN), a home areanetwork (HAN), or personal area network (PAN) employing any of a varietyof communications protocols, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, etc. Inyet another embodiment, the network includes one or more of a wide areanetwork (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a neighborhood area network(NAN), a home area network (HAN), or personal area network (PAN).

The sensor 231 is configured to sense/measure at least one electricalcharacteristic related to the load device 242 electrically connected tothe outlet 245. The electrical characteristic is, for example, avoltage, a current, and/or a resistance. In some embodiments, the sensor231 is a current sensor configured to measure the current sourced to theload device 242 through the load terminal 215.

The transceiver 240 is configured to enable wireless communicationbetween the receptacle 10 and the load device 242, via, for example,wireless communication link 244. In other embodiments, rather than atransceiver 240, the receptacle 10 may include separate transmitting andreceiving components, for example, a transmitter and a receiver. Inoperation, the electronic processor 205 is configured to control thetransceiver 240 to transmit and receive data to and from the receptacle10. The electronic processor 205 encodes and decodes digital data sentand received by the transceiver 240. The transceiver 240 transmits andreceives radio signals to and from various wireless communicationnetworks. For example, in some embodiments, the transceiver 240 isconfigured to communicate with a home automation (smart home) hub. Ahome automation or smart home hub is a hardware device that connectsdevices on a home automation network and controls communications amongthem. The home automation hub may further be communicatively coupled toone or more remote servers that the transceiver 240 may be configured toaccess directly or indirectly through the home automation hub. Theelectronic processor 205 and the transceiver 240 may include variousdigital and analog components, which for brevity are not describedherein and which may be implemented in hardware, software, or acombination of both. Some embodiments include separate transmitting andreceiving components, for example, a transmitter and a receiver, insteadof a combined transceiver 240.

FIG. 5 illustrates a process, or operation, 300 of the receptacle 10according to some embodiments. As an example, the method 300 isdescribed as being performed by the electronic processor 205 of thesystem 200 within the receptacle 10 illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 1,respectively, described above. It should be understood that the order ofthe steps disclosed in operation 300 could vary. Although illustrated asoccurring in parallel order, in other embodiments, the steps disclosedmay be performed in serial order. Furthermore, additional steps may beadded to the process and not all of the steps may be required.

At block 310, the electronic processor 205 determines a state of charge(in other words, current charge capacity) of a battery of the loaddevice 242 based on an electrical characteristic. In some embodiments,the electronic processor 205 communicates, via the transceiver 240, withthe load device 242 to determine the state of charge of the battery.

In some embodiments, the electronic processor 205 receives, from thesensor 231, an electrical characteristic. The electrical characteristicmay be a single value or a time series of data points. The electricalcharacteristic may be used to determine the state of charge of the loaddevice 242.

In some embodiments, additional information is provided to theelectronic processor 205, for example, through the transceiver 240 orthe communication link 239. The information may be used to identify theparticular load device 242. For example, the information could includethe type of load or device, the manufacturer of the load, and/or themake/model of the load. In some embodiments, the information includes aunique identifier to discern the particular load device 242 from otherload devices of the same type, manufacturer, and/or make/model (forexample, a serial number). In further embodiments, the additionalinformation may be used to determine a state of charge of a battery ofthe load device 242.

At block 315, the electronic processor 205 determines if the state ofcharge is at or above a predetermined threshold. In some embodiments,the threshold corresponds to a full charge capacity of the battery ofthe load device 242. In further embodiments, the electronic processor205 determines the threshold depending on the identity of the loaddevice 242. In such embodiments, the threshold is calculated based on acharging history of the load device 242, for example, usage since lastcharge. The charging history of the load device 242 may be stored withinthe memory 235 or a remote server or database. In such embodiments, thecharging history may be stored on a remote server through a homeautomation (smart home) hub. The threshold may also be calculated basedon one or more charging characteristics of the load device 242, forexample a maximum charge time or a measure of usage since last charge.Such charging characteristics may be stored within the memory 235 or aremote server or database (for example, a server in communication with asmart home hub). In such embodiments, the electronic processor 205provides information about the load device 242, for example the physicallocation of the load device 242 or the charging history of the loaddevice 242.

When the state of charge of the battery is below the threshold, theelectronic processor 205 proceeds supplying power to the load device 242(block 320). In some embodiments, the electronic processor 205 isfurther configured to communicate, via the transceiver 240, with a homeautomation hub and receive, from the home automation hub, chargingcommands regarding the charging the load device 242. The chargingcommands are, for example, how much power to supply the load device 242and when to start or stop charging the load device 242.

When the state of charge of the battery is at or above the threshold,the electronic processor 205 discontinues the supply of power to theload device 242 (block 325). In some embodiments, the electronicprocessor 205 activates the interrupting device 220 to discontinue thesupply of power to the load device 242. In some embodiments, afterdiscontinuing the supply of power to the load device 242, the controlsystem 200 enters a standby (or sleep) mode reducing its powerconsumption. In the standby mode, the control system 200 may check at apredetermined time interval to verify if the load device 242 with astate of charge below the threshold is electrically connected to theoutlet 245. The verification may be performed based on data from thesensor 231 or a signal received by the transceiver 240 from the loaddevice 242.

In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have beendescribed. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates thatvarious modifications and changes may be made without departing from thescope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly,the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrativerather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intendedto be included within the scope of present teachings.

The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) thatmay cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become morepronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essentialfeatures or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is definedsolely by the appended claims including any amendments made during thependency of this application and all equivalents of those claims asissued.

Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and second,top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish oneentity or action from another entity or action without necessarilyrequiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between suchentities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,”“having,” “includes,” “including,” “contains,” “containing” or any othervariation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, suchthat a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has,includes, contains a list of elements does not include only thoseelements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherentto such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by“comprises . . . a,” “has . . . a,” “includes . . . a,” or “contains . .. a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence ofadditional identical elements in the process, method, article, orapparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms“a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly statedotherwise herein. The terms “substantially,” “essentially,”“approximately,” “about” or any other version thereof, are defined asbeing close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and inone non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, inanother embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and inanother embodiment within 0.5%. The term “coupled” as used herein isdefined as connected, although not necessarily directly and notnecessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” ina certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also beconfigured in ways that are not listed.

It will be appreciated that some embodiments may be comprised of one ormore generic or specialized electronic processors (or “processingdevices”) such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, customizedprocessors and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and unique storedprogram instructions (including both software and firmware) that controlthe one or more electronic processors to implement, in conjunction withcertain non-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions ofthe method and/or apparatus described herein. Alternatively, some or allfunctions could be implemented by a state machine that has no storedprogram instructions, or in one or more application specific integratedcircuits (ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of certainof the functions are implemented as custom logic. Of course, acombination of the two approaches could be used.

Moreover, an embodiment may be implemented as a computer-readablestorage medium having computer readable code stored thereon forprogramming a computer (for example, comprising an electronic processor)to perform a method as described and claimed herein. Examples of suchcomputer-readable storage mediums include, but are not limited to, ahard disk, a CD-ROM, an optical storage device, a magnetic storagedevice, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read OnlyMemory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an EEPROM(Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and a Flashmemory. Further, it is expected that one of ordinary skill,notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choicesmotivated by, for example, available time, current technology, andeconomic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principlesdisclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such softwareinstructions and programs and ICs with minimal experimentation.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader toquickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It issubmitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpretor limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in theforegoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features aregrouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamliningthe disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than allfeatures of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims arehereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claimstanding on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. A power receptacle comprising: an outletconfigured to electrically connect to a load device; and an electronicprocessor configured to determine a state of charge of a battery of theload device, supply power to the load device when the state of charge ofthe battery is below a predetermined threshold, and discontinue supplyof power to the load device when the state of charge of the battery isat or above the predetermined threshold.
 2. The power receptacle ofclaim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold corresponds to a fullcharge capacity of the battery.
 3. The power receptacle of claim 1wherein the electronic processor is further configured to communicate,via a transceiver or a communication link, with the load device todetermine the state of charge of the battery.
 4. The power receptacle ofclaim 1 further comprising a transceiver.
 5. The power receptacle ofclaim 4 wherein the electronic processor is further configured tocommunicate, via the transceiver, with a home automation hub andreceive, from the home automation hub, a charging command.
 6. The powerreceptacle of claim 1, wherein the electronic processor is furtherconfigured to reference a charging characteristic of the load device todetermine when to stop supplying power to the battery.
 7. The powerreceptacle of claim 6, wherein the charging characteristic is oneselected from the group consisting of a maximum charge time, usage sincelast charge, and charging history.
 8. The power receptacle of claim 1,further comprising a sensor configured to sense an electricalcharacteristic of the outlet.
 9. The power receptacle of claim 8,wherein the electronic processor determines the state of charge of thebattery of the load device based on the electrical characteristic. 10.The power receptacle of claim 1, wherein the electronic processordetermines the state of charge of the battery of the load device basedon a communication with the load device.
 11. A method of operating apower receptacle electrically connected to a load device, the methodcomprising: determining a state of charge of a battery of the loaddevice; supplying power to the load device when the state of charge ofthe battery is below a predetermined threshold; and discontinuing supplyof power to the load device when the state of charge of the battery isat or above the predetermined threshold.
 12. The method of claim 11,wherein the predetermined threshold corresponds to a full chargecapacity of the battery.
 13. The method of claim 11, further comprisingcommunicating, via a transceiver or a communication link, with the loaddevice to determine the state of charge of the battery.
 14. The methodof claim 11, further comprising communicating, via a transceiver, with ahome automation hub and receiving, from the home automation hub,charging commands.
 15. The method of claim 11, further comprisingreferencing a charging characteristic of the load device to determinewhen to stop supplying power to the battery.
 16. The method of claim 11,further comprising sensing, via a sensor, an electrical characteristicof the outlet.
 17. The power receptacle of claim 16, wherein the step ofdetermining the state of charge of the battery of the load device isbased on the electrical characteristic.
 18. The power receptacle ofclaim 11, wherein the electronic processor determines the state ofcharge of the battery of the load device is based on a communicationwith the load device.